This "report" is beyond sketchy and isn't worth repeating. The source is a Korean blogger who just reads supply chain rumors posted on Chinese social media.

Do you know what kind of products supply chain sources can't leak anything about? New chips that are, by more credible reports, still 2+ years away from release at the earliest. The supply chain doesn't know anything about Apple's progress on chips until it's actually close to time to start manufacturing them. The only sources who can know the current status of Apple's modem developments are internal ones working in their never-leaked-anything chip development labs. The supply chain will learn about it when Apple needs to start preparing for manufacturing.

They dropped PPC for Intel. Within two years, Jobs was on stage lamenting the partnership as Intel frequently missed deadlines or just simply couldn’t deliver. It took them a while, but we all saw it coming and I’m sure Apple couldn’t have been happier dropping such a shitty company that did nothing but hold onto its monopoly. The blackberry of processors.

They then partnered with AT&T as their exclusive carrier and again, within just a year or so, top VPs would take shots at them during their keynotes. Within a few years, the arrangement was changed.

Qualcomm has been a thorn in their side for over a decade. They have sued them. Publicly called them out on their exhortation pricing.

There’s no way, given Apple’s dedication to perfection, will they just suck it up and stay with them. Their pricing structure alone is enough reason to build their own modems.

Apple should by Qualcomm.

Oh wait, that would be a horrible idea.

What a shame. They were really close to getting into Qualcomms water. I guess if not even apple comes close, Qualcomm will have a monopoly for the next 10+ years and will dictate their price for their modems in every iphone. That field could have used some competition. Stock and champagner-kork at qualcom will go through the roof.

It all could’ve been a negotiating tactic as well. Even funding a couple dozen employees for a few years is worth it if it saves them tens of millions on licensing if Qualcomm cuts them a better deal.

But it’s still just a matter of time.